Compartmented bag for automatic loading

ABSTRACT

A multi-compartmented bag for holding a projectile propellant charge therein. The bag comprises a main charge tubular section having a plurality of straps sewn to its outer peripheral surface, a first integral funnel bag means for holding therein an igniter charge, a second integral funnel bag means for holding therein a flash reducer charge, wherein the tubular section is sewn intermediate to the first and second bag means and whereby sequence of assembly the first and second bag means can readily be filled with an igniter and flash reducer charge respectively by automatic loading equipment.

United States Patent [191 Lohnstein COMPARTMENTEDBAG FOR AUTOMATIC LOADING [75] lnventor: Burton Lohnstein, Dover, NJ.

[73] Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army, Washington, DC. [22] Filed: July 14, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 271,956

[52] US. Cl. 102/97 [51] Int. Cl. F42b 9/24 [58] Field of Search 102/97 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,329,503 2/1920 Casey 102/97 1,625,631 4/1927 Spotswood et a1... 102/97 2,495,109 7/1946 Mydans 102/97 Nov. 13, 1973 Primary Examiner-Benjamin A. lBorchelt Assistant Examiner-C. T. Jordan Attorney-Harry M. Saragovitz et a1.

[5 7] ABSTRACT A multi-compartmented bag for holding a projectile propellant charge therein. The bag comprises a main charge tubular section having a plurality of straps sewn to its outer peripheral surface, a first integral funnel bag means for holding therein an igniter charge, a second integral funnel bag means for holding therein a flash reducer charge, wherein the tubular section is sewn intermediate to the first and second bag means and whereby sequence of assembly the first and second bag means can readily be filled with an igniter and flash reducer charge respectively by automatic loading equipment.

6 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures PATENTEB HUN 3 I975 SHEET 10$ 4 PATENTED NOV 1 3 I975 SHEET 2 BF 4 PAIENIEDNHY 13 ms SHEET 30F 4 COMPARTMENTED BAG FOR AUTOMATIC LOADING GOVERNMENTAL INTEREST The invention described herein may be manufactured, used and licensed by or for the Government for governmental purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Various means have been used in prior art to hold a charge for propelling a large caliber projectile, such as the 155 millimeter and 8-inch howitzer, out of a weapon. In order to initiate the main propelling charge, which generally has a low ignition rate, ,an igniter charge having a high ignition rate such as black powder must be interposed between it and an electric or percussion type detonator. To prevent an enemy from detecting the site of the gun being fired by visual observation of the flash, a flash reducer charge consisting of material such as potassium nitrate is usually placed after the main charge. The main propelling charge, positioned intermediate the igniter and flash reducer charges, generally consists of a granulated mixture of nitrocellulose, dinitrotoluene, dibutylphthalate, and diphenylamine. A typical propellant for a 155 mm round consists approximately of 3.5 ounces of igniter charge, 13 pounds of main propelling charge and 1 ounce of flash reducer. In prior art powder bags the aforementioned granulated materials are held within combustible cloth sacs which are shaped to fit the bore of the gun. Prior art composite powder bags, having several charges therein, are each first separately filled, then each individual bag is closed by sewing, and then individually sewn together to form the single composite assembly.

One of the problems with the prior art powder bags assembly was that the construction of the bag did not lend itself to automatic loading, each bag had to be hand filled. Another problem with prior art bags was that the location of the filling holes were fixed and the design was not conducive to the holding fixtures of an automatic loading machine.

The present invention provides a funnel shaped filling hole for the igniter and flash charges which is readily variable in aperture and position and easily adaptable to fit machine loading fixtures. The invention utilizes igniter, flash reducer, and propellant sections of one piece construction. These sections are sewn together and arranged in an assembly which require less sewing than previously possible, have less rejects, are a reduced safety hazard to personnel, and require less operator training.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a multicompartmented bag having igniter and flash reducer sections operatively positioned on opposite ends of a pro-pellant charge section. The present invention utilizes igniter and flash reducer bags having integral flap selvage ends which form a self contained funnel and aids in automatic machine loading. As a result of this invention the hazard to personnel handling composite powder rounds is reduced twofold. Firstly, there is less danger to personnel when a machine replaces a person in loading of the flammable powder into the bag. Secondly, the bag design of the present invention facilitates the use of vibration machinery to help settle the charge contents, e.g., black powder, in the bag prior to sewing the bag closed, thereby reducing the probability that the contents will be ignited accidently by the sewing operation.

One of the objects of this invention is to provide a multi-compartmented powder bag which can be loaded by automatic equipment.

Another object of this invention :is to provide a multicompartmented powder bag which is less hazardous to load.

Another object of this invention :is to provide a multicompartmented powder bag which has igniter and flash reducer bag ends which have self contained funnels for loading.

Another object of this invention :is to provide a multicompartmented powder bag having igniter and flash reducer sections which facilitate the use of vibration machinery to help settle the charge contents therein prior to sewing the bag closed.

Another object of this invention is to provide a multicompartmented powder bag which requires less sewing.

Another object of this invention is to provide an igniter and flash reducer section to a propellant section of a multi-compartmented bag wherein the sections are of one-piece construction.

For a better understanding of the present invention, together with other and further objects thereof, reference is made to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of the igniter charge one piece bag material and the position of the igniter bag seams as shown by dotted lines.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the igniter bag material shown in its folded and sewn position, with centrally positioned equal length flaps forming a funnel. The closing seams are shown as dotted lines.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the main propellant charge bag material prior .to being sewn along its longitudinal axis with 4 attachment straps sewn to the main bag outside surface; the position of the main charge bag longitudinal seam is shown by dotted lines along the edge of the material.

FIG. 4 is an isometric view of the main charge bag shown in its sewn inverted position prior to being sewn to the igniter bag shown in FIG. 2 and the flash reducer bag of FIG. 6. The dotted lines on the top end of the cylindrically shaped main bag is illustrative of the position of the igniter-main bag seam.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the flash reducer bag material and the position of the flash reducer seams as shown by dotted lines.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the flash reducer material shown in its folded and sewn position, with centrally positioned flaps forming an open funnel similar to the bag shown in FIG. 2. An additional concentrically positioned seam is shown in this view to illustrate how the flash reducer bag volume may be readily reduced.

FIG. 7 shows the assembled powder bag after the igniter bag has been filled and closed, sewn to the main charge bag section, the igniter and main bag assembly inverted, the flash reducer bag filled and closed, and the main charge bag filled and sewn closed by sewing the periphery of the flash reducer bag to the remaining open end of the main charge bag.

FIGS. 8 and 9 are alternate embodiments of igniter and/or flash reducer bags illustrating how the funnel length can readily be changed in length.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are plan and isometric views respectively of another alternate embodiment of the bag designs shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and and 6 showing how the funnel portion of the bag can be made of unequal flap lengths to suit particular automatic machine loading requirements.

FIGS. 12 and 13 are plan and isometric views respectively of a further modification of the bag designs shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 and S and 6 showing how the funnel portion of the bag can be shifted so that it is not axially aligned.

Throughout the following description like reference numerals are used'to denote like parts of the drawing.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to FIG. 1, a punch press (not shown), utilizing the proper die, cuts out of igniter acrylic cloth material, a pattern having a basic body circle section a pair of rectangular shaped flaps 12 and 14 each of which have integrally attached thereto a minor semicircular body section 13 and 15 respectively and which are tangentially, attached to the body circle 10 on diametrically opposite sides. Each of the minor body circle sections have integrally attached full width symetrically shaped flap sections 16 and 18 which append therefrom, and longitudinal axes 20 and 22 which are coincident with the centerline 24 of the main body circle section 10.

FIG. 2 shows assembled igniter bag 32 which is created by folding flaps '12 and 14 toward each other so that they symmetrically touch, and sewing a stiched seam along the dotted lines 26, 28 and 30 as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4. A centrally positioned funnel 34 is formed by the latter aforementioned seam. The igniter bag 32 may be of a cloth material having a 100 percent acrylic fiber content;

FIG. 3 shows a rectangularly shaped main charge cloth material pattern 36 which has four ribbon straps 38, 40, 42, and 44 respectively, paralleling each other and sewn to the main charge material 36 by seams lines 46 and 48. The longitudinal main bag seam 52 and 52' are positioned on top of each other when edges 47 and 49 are overlapped.

FIG. 4 shows the main charge acrylic-viscous rayon material 36 formed into a tubular shape section 50 by making a lap seam along dotted line 52. The tubular section 50 may be made of an acrylic-viscous rayon material having a fiber blend consisting essentially of 50 to 60 percent acrylic fiber and to 50 percent rayon fiber. After the tubular section 50 has been folded and sewn as shown in FIG. 4 the igniter bag 32 is joined to the igniter bag tubular flange end 54 along the circular seam 28. After the igniter bag 32 is joined to the main charge tubular section 50 the igniter bag 32 is filled with an igniter charge (not shown) and then closed by igniter seam 17. shown on FIG. 2 and 17 and 17' shown on FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6 a flash reducer I00 percent cotton fiber cloth material 56, having a pattern similar in shape to the igniter bag pattern shown in FIG. 1, is folded and sewn in a manner similar to that aforedescribed for the igniter bag 32 with the exception that additional seam 58, 60 and 62 are sewn to restrict the volume of the flash reducer bag for the smaller charge contained therein.

The flash-reducer bag 64 in its folded and sewn position has a centrally opened funnel flap end 66. After the flash reducer bag 64 has been filled with a flash reducing charge, such as potassium nitrate, a closing seam 68, 68' is made to effect closure.

FIG. 7 shows the completed assembly of the loaded igniter bag 32, main charge propellant bag 50 after they have been inverted with straps 38, 40, 42 and 44 depending from the circumference of the latter, and the flash reducer bag 64 sewn along closing seam 70 to the other open end 72 of the tubular main section 50 after the latter has been filled with a propellant charge. The aforementioned straps are used to join one propellant round to another when it is desired to extend the firing range of the weapon. Funnel ends 34 and 66 each protrude inwardly'towa'rd the inside of the main charge bag 50. Loading of the main charge bag 50 is accomplished by only partially completing circular seam 70 when the main charge bag is empty and completing the seam 70 after the main propellant charge has been added.

FIGS. 8-11 show plan and isometric views of alternate embodiments of centrally located full width integral funnel designs that may be used on either the igniter or flash reducer bag members. FIGS. 8 and 9 show equal variable length flaps 74 and 76. FIGS. 10 and 11 show how full width, unequal variable length flaps 78 and 80 can be constructed from acne piece material pattern.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show further embodiments of the igniter and flash reducer bag and illustrate how narrow width non-axially aligned flaps 82 and 84 can readily be constructed from a one-piece material pattern.

I wishit to be understood that I do not desire to be limited to' the exact detail of construction shown and described for obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-compartmented bag for holding a projectile propellant which comprises:

a main charge tubular cloth section having open ends;

a first integral funnel bag means for holding therein an igniter charge proximately attached to one of said open ends of said tubular section; and

a second integral funnel bag means for holding therein a flash reducer charge proximately attached to the other end of said tubular section whereby said first and second bag means can readily be filled by automatic loading equipment.

2. A compartmented bag as recited in claim 1 wherein the first funnel bag means comprises;

a first cloth pattern having a basic body circular section, a first semi-circular section tangentially attached to said circular section, a second semicircular section tangentially attached to said circular section and diametrically disposed to said first semi-circular section, a pair of rectangularly shaped flaps each integrally extending from said first and second semi-circular sections; and

a seam sewn around said first pattern peripheral edge after said semi-circular sections and said flaps are folded toward each other forming an igniter bag 3 ,77 l ,459 5 6 having an integral centrally located funnel therein. peripheral area circumscribed by said first seam 3. A compartmented bag as recited in claim 2 thereby creating a restricted. bag volume with a wherein said second bag means comprises: centrally located funnel therein.

a second cloth pattern having a basic body circular 4. A compartmented bag as recited in claim 3 section, a first semi-circular section tangentially at- 5 wherein said tubular cloth section consisting essentially tached to said circular section, a second semiof an acrylic-viscous rayon fiber blend, said blend havcircular section tangentially attached to said circuing 50 to 60 percent acrylic fiber and 40 to 50 percent lar section and diametrically disposed to said first rayon fiber content. semi-circular section, a pair of rectangularly 5. A compartmented bag as recited in claim 4 shaped flaps each integrally extending from said 10 wherein said first cloth pattern consists of 100 percent first and second semi-circular sections, acrylic fiber.

afirst seam sewn around said second patterns periph- 6. A compartmented bag as recited in claim 5 eral edge after said semi-circular sections and said wherein said second cloth pattern consists of 100 perflaps are folded toward each other; and cent cotton.

a second seam sewn on said second pattern within the 

1. A multi-compartmented bag for holding a projectile propellant which comprises: a main charge tubular cloth section having open ends; a first integral funnel bag means for holding therein an igniter charge proximately attached to one of said open ends of said tubular section; and a second integral funnel bag means for holding therein a flash reducer charge proximately attached to the other end of said tubular section whereby said first and second bag means can readily be filled by automatic loading equipment.
 2. A compartmented bag as recited in claim 1 wherein the first funnel bag means comprises; a first cloth pattern having a basic body circular section, a first semi-circular section tangentially attached to said circular section, a second semi-circular section tangentially attached to said circular section and diametrically disposed to said first semi-circular section, a pair of rectangularly shaped flaps each integrally extending from said first and second semi-circular sections; and a seam sewn around said first pattern peripheral edge after said semi-circular sections and said flaps are folded toward each other forming an igniter bag having an integral centrally located funnel therein.
 3. A compartmented bag as recited in claim 2 wherein said second bag means comprises: a second cloth pattern having a basic body circular section, a first semi-circular section tangentially attached to said circular section, a second semi-circular section tangentially attached to said circular section and diametrically disposed to said first semi-circular section, a pair of rectangularly shaped flaps each integrally extending from said first and second semi-circular sections, a first seam sewn around said second patterns peripheral edge after said semi-circular sections and said flaps are folded toward each other; and a second seam sewn on said second pattern within the peripheral area circumscribed by said first seam thereby creating a restricted bag volume with a centrally located funnel therein.
 4. A compartmented bag as recited in claim 3 wherein said tubular cloth section consisting essentially of an acrylic-viscous rayon fiber blend, said blend having 50 to 60 percent acrylic fiber and 40 to 50 percent rayon fiber content.
 5. A compartmented bag as recited in claim 4 wherein said first cloth pattern consists of 100 percent acrylic fiber.
 6. A compartmented bag as recited in claim 5 wherein said second cloth pattern consists of 100 percent cotton. 